How to combine duplicate contacts in the Xiaomi phone: 4 proven ways

Over the years of using the Xiaomi smartphone, your address book inevitably becomes overgrown with duplicates: the same contacts are saved from different accounts (Google, Mi Account, SIM-The cards are repeated after importing from backups or created when synchronized with messengers. Forked records not only clutter the list, but also make it difficult to find the right person, and sometimes lead to confusion when calling. Fortunately, Xiaomi phones have built-in tools for automatic and manual combination of takes – they are not able to use all the devices.

In this article, we will analyze 4 working methods – from the standard functions of the Contacts app to third-party utilities that will cope with even the most neglected cases. You will learn how to find hidden duplicates, why some contacts do not automatically combine, and what to do if important data is lost after the merger. POCO base MIUI 12–14 (including global and Chinese firmware versions).

Why do you have duplicate contacts in Xiaomi?

Duplicate contacts is a common problem for all Android smartphones, but in Xiaomi it is more common because of the peculiarities of MIUI.

• 🔄 Sync with multiple accounts, if you use both Google contacts and Mi Account, and save numbers to your account SIM-map, the system creates separate records for each source.
• 📱 Import from backups: When you restore data from the backup (for example, after resetting settings), old contacts can overlap with new ones.
• 🤖 Automatic addition from instant messengers. WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber sometimes create their own copies of contacts that are not synchronized with the main address book.
• 📇 Manual input errors: Users often save the same number under different names (e.g., "Ivan Petrov" and "Ivan from the work»).
• 🔄 Updates MIUI. After major firmware updates, synchronization settings are sometimes lost, which leads to splitting of records.

Especially often the problem occurs in users who have changed smartphones (for example, switched from iPhone to Xiaomi) or use several devices. SIM-In such cases, duplicates may appear even after the address book has been cleared.

⚠️ Note: If you notice that duplicates appear on their own (without your participation), check the sync settings in Settings. → Accounts and syncs: Automatic addition of contacts from social networks or cloud services may be enabled.

Method 1: Automatically connect via the Contacts app

The easiest way is to use the built-in merging function in the standard Contacts app, which is available on all Xiaomi smartphones and does not require additional software installation.

1. Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
2. Tap it on three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management.
3. Go to the Combine Contacts section (in some versions of MIUI it may be called Find and Combine Duplicates).
4. Wait for the system to scan the address book, and the duplicates you find will show up in the list.
5. Opposite each take will be a Combine button – click on it to merge the records.

If there are many duplicates, you can use the option to combine all (usually located at the bottom of the screen). However, be careful: automatic mergers sometimes combine irrelevant contacts (for example, people with the same names but different numbers).

Backup your contacts (Settings → Google → Backup)

Check that all important numbers are saved in one account (Google or Mi Account)

Turn off sync with SIM-card (unless you use it to store your contacts)

Make sure that the duplicates have the same names or phone numbers.-->

Once combined, it is recommended to restart your smartphone, which will help avoid temporary display errors in the address book. If some duplicates were not found automatically, proceed to the next method.

Method 2: Manual merging through contact editing

Automatic pairing doesn't always work with partial takes, like when contacts have the same phone number but different names, or vice versa.

1. Open the Contacts app and find a duplicate entry.
2. Slip on it, then click Edit (pencil icon).
3. Scroll down to the Linked Contacts block and click Link.
4. In the list, select the second duplicate and confirm the merger.

This method allows you to selectively combine data — for example, leave the main name from one record, and take an additional phone number or email from another. Once linked, both records will appear as one, but still retain all the unique data (addresses, birthdays, notes).

⚠️ Note: If you have chosen the wrong contact for the merger in a manual merger, it will not be possible to cancel the action.

Method 3: Using Google Contacts to Clean Up Duties

If your contacts are synced with your Google account, you can use the Google Contacts web version, which offers more flexible tools for working with duplicates, which is especially useful if you have more than 500 contacts (in which case the built-in MIUI tools may not work smoothly).

Instructions:

1. Open contacts.google.com on your computer or phone and log in with the same account as you do on Xiaomi.
2. On the left menu, select Duplicates (or Combine and Fix → Find Duplicates).
3. The service will show all the matches found. Click Combine opposite each take or use the option to Combine all.
4. Once completed, sync contacts on your smartphone: go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google and enable Contact Sync.

Advantages of this method:

• 🔍 More accurate algorithm for searching for duplicates (taking into account not only numbers, but also email, addresses).
• 🖥️ It is easier to work on a large computer screen.
• 🔄 Opportunity to cancel the merger (within 30 days of the change).

💡

If after combining in Google Contacts, the duplicates remained on your smartphone, try to delete the cache of the Contacts app: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Contacts → Storage → Clear the cache.

The downside is that it only works for contacts saved in a Google account, if your numbers are stored in Mi Account or on your account. SIM-You will need to move them to Google first (more on this in the next section).

Method 4: Third-party applications for deep cleaning

If the built-in tools fail, specialized tools will come to the rescue, they can find hidden duplicates (such as contacts with typos in names) and offer advanced merger settings, we tested several popular applications and selected the best ones:

Before using third-party apps, make sure to back up your contacts!

1. Open the "Contact» → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
2. Choose Export to File and save a.vcf backup to your device or the cloud.

After installing the cleaning application, follow its instructions. Most utilities offer:

• 🔍 Double scanner with customizable criteria (e.g., ignore name register differences).
• 🔄 Preview before the merger – you will see what data will be combined.
• 🗑️ Remove empty contacts (no names or numbers).

Standard application "Contacts" Xiaomi

Google Contacts

Third-party utilities (Simpler Merge, Contacts Optimizer, etc.)

I don't use special applications.

Other-->

What happens if duplicates appear again?

If you get duplicates back after cleaning, the problem is sync settings or corrupted data.

1. Turn off sync with unnecessary accounts: Settings → Accounts and sync → select accounts (like Mi Account or Facebook) and turn off contact sync.
2. Move the contacts with SIM-map: SIM-Cards are often the source of duplicates. SIM To the main address book and remove them from the map.
3. Check the settings of messengers: In WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber, turn off the option of automatically adding contacts to the address book.
4. Update the Contacts app: Go to Google Play, find Contacts, and check for updates.

If the duplicates keep appearing, try resetting the Contacts app settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Contacts.
2. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
3. After reset, sync your contacts again (from Google or Mi Account).

⚠️ Attention: Clearing the Contacts app data will delete all local records not synced to the cloud! before reset, make sure all contacts are saved to Google or Mi Account.

How to avoid doubles in the future?

To avoid the problem recurring, follow simple rules:

💡

The main rule: keep all contacts in one account (preferably Google) and disable synchronization with unnecessary sources (SIM, Mi Account, social networks).

• 📱 Select one primary account to store your contacts (we recommend Google, it is more securely synced between devices).
• 🔄 Check your duplicates regularly (every 2-3 months) through built-in tools or Google Contacts.
• 🚫 Disable auto-add contacts in messengers and social networks.
• 📇 Keep the new numbers correctly: Use full names (not "Masha", but "Maria Ivanovna Petrova"). Add additional information (company, position) - this will help avoid confusion.

If you change your smartphone frequently, export your contacts to a.vcf file before switching to a new device, which will help you avoid overlaying old data on new ones when you transfer them.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the double contacts in Xiaomi